Masjid Ibrahim Builds a 16,000 Sq Ft Facility to Meet Growing Community Needs

What started out in 2007 as a small group gathering for prayer in each other’s living rooms, grew into a large Muslim community averaging 250+ attendees for prayers and services. For close to a decade, Masjid Ibrahim had leased a commercial office space to gather, but as they outgrew it, they knew they needed to find a permanent home for their community.

After purchasing 2.2 acres of land in 2017 in Bethany, just outside Hillsboro, Oregon, the community began the ambitious project of building a 16,000 square foot facility. Through grassroots fundraising efforts, they successfully funded 50% of the initial construction. However, when rising costs of construction materials and labor threatened to halt their progress, they needed financial partners who understood both their vision and their unique faith-based requirements.

In partnership with Stearns Bank, Craft3 helped finance the final phase of construction through an Islamic financing package. The financing structure addressed a significant barrier faced by Muslim communities seeking capital. Islam prohibits charging or paying interest, placing conventional financing at odds with Muslim faith. Through an Islamic-certified financing model that utilizes a master lease and lease-back arrangement, commonly known as Ijara, Craft3 and Stearns Bank provided a solution that helped the organization secure pricing bids and take steps towards completing construction, while also continuing their fundraising efforts.

“Through halal financing and Allah’s blessing, we can now provide a proper space for worship, education, and service to our ummah while maintaining our Islamic principles,” Board Member Sayed Ali says. “Alhamdulillah, this partnership with Craft3 represents the barakah in our community’s efforts.”

The construction of this new facility will be completed by 2026. When finished, it will be more than just a place of worship; it will also eventually include an early care and education center, a commercial kitchen for community meals, and gathering spaces that will serve the growing Muslim population in the area. For many community members, the nearest mosque was previously in Beaverton, making this new location significantly more accessible for families in Bethany and surrounding neighborhoods.

"What inspires me about this project is the dedication of the community," Senior Business Lender, VP Ana Inclán reflects. "Board Members Sayed Ali and Asad Iqbal served as project managers and demonstrated incredible persistence. This is about creating a space where a community can gather, worship, educate their children, and support one another."

The seven-year financing term gives Masjid Ibrahim time to continue their fundraising efforts with the goal of paying off the loan early, while immediately benefiting from their new space.

This project is the first of several planned collaborations between Craft3 and Stearns Bank to expand Islamic financing throughout the region. Irshad Rasheed, President of Stearns Salaam Banking, reflects: “Strategic partnerships with CDFIs, like Craft3, allow us to reimagine and fund more innovative, community-centered projects that can have meaningful impacts for years to come.”

Projects like Masjid Ibrahim exemplify what is possible when financial institutions collaborate to center the unique needs of their customers. Together, we can expand access to capital and help communities thrive on their own terms.

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